UMC Hillside Mission to Honduras 2012

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Mission to Honduras 2012 " Through God's Heart"

The path is full of bumps in the road, the journey is long, the mountain is steep, the valley is dry, and the land is thirsty.  It is full of discomfort, pains in the stomach- like labor pains about to birth. The new beginning, a new path it will be joyous, all the pain forgotten.  It may seem small but it will be big.  The road less traveled will be muddy, I will carry you across the river to my cross set on a hill; you will kneel.  Although the land is foreign and the language is not familiar, I will show you a new way to communicate with the heart, with a language that is familiar my love.  See the common struggles man suffers, what seems cursed in blessed.  Don't judge the circumstance, I have a plan that you don't understand.  I will light your path in the dark.  You are my salt and light n the world set apart.  I will set you on top of the mountain, beckoning to those who will see.  A city on a hill, hear the angels sing, Alleluia. Glory to God!  I have made this place a Holy Ground that will yield good fruit from all around. 
Hear the cheers as you approach La Fuentes, the angels are singing in heaven.  You have arrived let the mission begin!  Blessed are the floors you are laying the foundation is stronger, blessed are the chimneys you make, the smoke will not choke the heart, blessed are the latrines you are providing relief and belief, no more grief. Blessed are the crafts the children made and the bible stories you tell- I will be hailed.  Blessed is the journey you take- I will teach your soul not to forsake.  I will teach you to stretch beyond your boundaries not just in miles but with smiles.  My love will abound on this ground!

This is what God revealed to me after the trip-Stacy

Honduras Misssion Trip Memories

Welcome Banner from Hondurans

Video from children from the village singing  Hallelujah

Before concrete floors

After concrete floors poured

Inside kitchen of home in village

School in La Fuente village

children wait for soccer balls to be thrown from our Landrover each day

First time listening to music headphones

Doug and Steven singing with children in village during bible studies

Kids singing loving music

learned how to catch tennis ball

Village church

family waiting for Latrene to be built

Hillside mission group

Latrene almost complete

Fiesta last day we provide food for the community

kids posing with sunglasses 1st time they have ever worn glasses

Tom and Marta HOI team leader

Children singing at Fiesta

Cross at Ranch where we prayed and had fellowshipwith others

Saturday our flight landed and we took a 3-4 hour bus ride to juticaltpa where we stayed in a nice hotel in city. We all got a nice sleep in our last night of air conditioning! After breakfast we took a tour in the city. I must say I was amazed at the living conditions in town. We walked through a dark alley where the locals bought meat and let's just say I was thinking that I may become a vegetarian on this trip until I saw the vegetables in the market. Wow it is amazing how much we take for granted in u.s. the highlight of the walk was that we got to visit a cathedral during a service. The church was beautiful but not like catholic churches at home but it was very cool to see the service in another culture. The people in this country are very friendly and take pride in their country. Sunday we stayed our first night at the ranch the country side is absolutely beautiful the mountains magificant and had had a feeling as we pulled into this place that this is God's country. We had a great fellowship Sunday night as we all got to know each other better. Monday morning at 5 am we woke up to slight overcast and after a great breakfast headed to the village 2 hour drive. The village of La Fuentes joyfully greeted us with all the families and children. The children welcomed us with songs. At first some of the kids seemed at little shy and timid towards us not really knowing who we are or what to expect from us. However, we sung back our songs to them which seemed to break the ice a little.

We made it safe to Honduras

God's Call and How We Respond

 It is Friday June 1st and we are meeting at the church to load our luggage for the trip.  Doug Thrasher, Linda and  Barbara have created us a devotional journal for our trip.  Our devotional focus will be on God's call and how we experience it and how we respond to it.  Each evening, different ones of us will share our personal experiences of God's call.  Each morning on our trip we will take time to read, write, and pray.  Each evening after our building projects and bible school with the kids we will be sharing our experiences of God during the day.  We are all in prayer that this trip will be an incredible time of hearing and responding to God's call. 

 
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16